Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Tree Frog Canopy Tours

Zip lining is not for the squeamish - especially when you're talking about the tallest, fastest, and longest zip line in all of Ohio! Tree Frog Canopy Tours in Glenmont, Holmes County, holds that title with its highest point at 120 feet, its fastest clocked speed at 52 miles per hour, and over 4,000 feet of pure fun and adrenaline (the individual cables ranging from 145 feet to 1,100 feet long).

The only zip lining complex in the northern part of the state (others available being Ozone Zipline Adventures in Lebanon, Valley Zipline Tours in Lancaster, and Hocking Hills Canopy Tours in Rockbridge to name a few), Tree Frog Canopy Tours treats visitors as they are led through the forest via seven ziplines, two sky bridges, and two 50-foot rappels. It was certainly an adventure I could not turn down.

A group of six of us (me, Greg, Steve, Ryan, Marc, and Stacey) arrived on Labor Day weekend ready and roaring to go. Driving through the winding roads of the Mohican Country, we lost all phone service (something to keep in mind if you are trying to find your way with a GPS). The main office for Tree Frog were in a large lodge directly down the street from the famous Tree House Cabins.

You must make reservations prior to your zipline tour in order to ensure your spot. Groups can be as large as 8 individuals, all of whom must be at least 10 years in age and between 75-250 pounds in weight.

Our tour took place at 1:30 PM, but we were required to arrive a half an hour early so that we could sign waivers and get suited up in our harnesses and helmets. Our tour guides were named Matt and Dan, two hilarious guys that eased any fears or hesitations we might have had, by cracking jokes and calming our nerves.

Not only were they personable, but the guides were extremely professional as well. All of the guides were trained to meet the standards of the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT), a rigorous certification program to ensure that they are equipped with the essential knowledge when taking guests like us on our treetop treks.

We were soon taken to the start of the zip line course by riding an ATV to the top of a large hill in the thick woods. There, we discovered a mini zipline that was no more than 8 feet off the ground and a few yards in length. This is where we did our practice runs so we could get used to sitting in the harness and practice the braking techniques.

After this crash course, it was time to ZIP! I will admit, I was a bit shaky on the first platform. It is only natural to be afraid of being up so high with nothing but a cable holding you up. But, I just had to remind myself that we were 100% safe. Once I had that in my head, it was smooth sailing! One by one, we each stood at the edge of the platform, lifted our legs and off we went, zooming to the next platform! One of the guides would stand on the other platform to let you know when to put the brakes on so you didn't go barreling into the tree. It was a good system!

This is the ONLY zipline tour in Ohio that uses a dual cable system for faster speeds and smoother rides. This was evident as we progressed through the course, zipping on longer and longer cables along the way. The group became more comfortable as we went along, and we started incorporating fun moves in the mix, such as the cannonball!

Another added touch at Tree Frog Canopy Tous that you can't find at most other zip line establishments was the rappelling platforms! Here, we had to lower ourselves from the 50-foot and 60-foot platforms down to the ground by using a rope attached to our harness and a pulley system. Again, the hardest part is trusting that you can dangle over the edge of the platform. Once you conquer that fear inside your head, you can let go and enjoy the ride! The rappelling might actually have been my favorite part of the tour.

In all, the experience at Tree Frog Canopy Tours was unlike any other zip line adventure I have ever embarked on. If you are looking for something a little different, Tree Frog Canopy Tours also offers Night Zips with glow-in-the-dark and moonlit elements. You also can purchase a photo CD of your experience, or rent a GoPro camera to fasten to yourself and record the trip from a one-of-a-kind vantage point!

If this is on your bucket list, I highly suggest you book your tour NOW. Don't let the fear of heights get in your way of enjoying this exciting, safe, and unique thrill.